Veteran Carlos Hyde Resurfaces with Seahawks on 1-Year Deal

Carlos Hyde is off the market. After a longer-than-expected free agency, the seventh-year ball-carrier finally resurfaced Friday night, joining the Seahawks on a one-year contract, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Hyde’s reported $4-million pact is almost identical to what Seattle offered Devonta Freeman earlier this week. Apparently Freeman, who was pink-slipped by the Falcons two months ago (and eventually replaced by former Rams standout Todd Gurley), thought he could find a more lucrative deal elsewhere. While the Jets and Eagles are still keeping tabs on Freeman, the 28-year-old has expressed that he’s willing to sit out the season if teams aren’t willing to meet his quota.

As for Hyde, Seattle will be the veteran’s sixth team in a span of four seasons. Despite his mileage, the journeyman performed admirably in his lone season with Houston, rushing for a career-best 1,070 yards in place of injured starter Lamar Miller, who missed all of 2019 with a torn ACL. Houston initially showed interest in bringing Hyde back, but that door closed as soon as the Texans acquired David Johnson in a trade that netted the Cardinals All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hyde went to training camp with Kansas City last year but was traded to Houston late in the summer for 2018 third-rounder Martinas Rankin.

Hyde, who was also courted by Philadelphia before the Seahawks swooped in Friday night, provides insurance for expected bell-cow Chris Carson, who is still recovering from last year’s hip surgery. Former first-round pick Rashaad Penny is also on the shelf with a torn ACL that could cost him the Seahawks’ first handful of games, if not more. Hyde also went under the knife this offseason, though the 29-year-old should be recovered from his torn labrum well in advance of Week 1. Seattle had been in discussions with Marshawn Lynch’s agent, but with Hyde now filling the veteran grinder role Lynch occupied late last year, Beast Mode no longer figures into the Seahawks’ 2020 plans.